Car safety is crucial when it comes to reducing the occurrence of road accidents. Every year, thousands of people lose their lives or are severely injured in automotive crashes. Thus drivers need to monitor and maintain the health of the vehicles they drive and keep everything in top conditions. Modern cars come with a lot of intricate features and functionalities that have gradually reduced the instance of road accidents over the years. However, the danger is not over by any means.
Among the many safety measures in vehicles these days, ABS is one of the most important and impactful ones. It has become a standard in almost all vehicles we see on the roads nowadays. This proves that people are beginning to grow aware of the repercussions of not maintaining safety standards. Let us take a closer look at what ABS is.
What is ABS?
ABS stands for the anti-lock braking system. It is one of the key elements of a vehicular system that prevents the wheels from locking down after the brakes are applied with force. Imagine speeding down a freeway. A sudden obstruction up ahead makes you hit the brakes hard. If your car does not have an ABS, chances are you will lose control and start to skid. Such situations are especially dangerous due to the risk of flipping over as well.
The job of the ABS is to not let the wheels stop spinning abruptly. Even in the case of suddenly hitting the brakes, the system will keep the wheels running and allow the vehicle to gradually slow down instead of starting to drift. The engine control unit (ECU) in a vehicle receives messages from the wheels whenever there is a risk of one of them locking up. The ECU then takes measures to release the brake on that particular wheel to keep it spinning, preventing it from skidding in the process.
Do not be concerned if you see the ABS warning light turn on when you get into your car. This is a regular step performed by the ABS where it blinks to inform the driver that all the necessary systems are up and running smoothly. However, it is a matter of concern if the light stays on, as it indicates that certain problems do exist that need to be taken care of.
What to Do When the ABS Warning Light Comes on
As explained above, the ABS warning light is a serious matter and should never be taken lightly. It may well one day save your life! We recommend following certain steps whenever the ABS light starts to flash in your car.
Replace the ABS Module
One of the key reasons for the ABS warning light to turn on is the fact that the module itself might have gone bad. It can simply start to corrode after a while. Once it does, it gets extremely difficult for the engine control unit to relay the information received from the wheels. Unfortunately, even a little corrosion can cause the module to malfunction and the warning light to go on.
Furthermore, this corrosion can extend to the wiring as well. Even if a single operational wire is affected, the entire system might collapse -- although modern techniques go a long way toward preventing this. You will feel the brakes becoming increasingly unresponsive with time. The brake pads will begin to feel harder to push down. You might also hear strange clicking sounds from the brakes. We believe, for solving this, the best-case scenario is a little re-wiring, while going for a complete replacement is the worst-case scenario.
Change the Speed Sensors
Speed sensors are installed into every wheel of a car. These devices figure out the speed at which the vehicle is traveling and convey the information to the ABS via the ECU. If any one of the wheels is not matching the torque of the other ones, the ABS adjusts the brake fluid`s pressure and slowly brings its RPM close to that of the other ones. In the case of a problem within this system, you will see the ABS warning light flashing on your dashboard.
The biggest danger to these compact devices is the heat generated from the wheels. As they are placed very close to the tires, there is the possibility of their circuits melting down under critical circumstances. Furthermore, debris from the road also plays a part in destroying the sensors over time.
After a while, you may begin to feel that your car is taking significantly longer to come to a halt, despite the ABS light being off. The wheels might start to lose their grip whenever you hit the brakes hard. Symptoms like these should be taken seriously. We recommend taking your vehicle to a mechanic whenever you face such issues.
Refill Brake Fluid
It is the brake fluid that is released in the brake reservoir that ensures the wheels remain firmly in control. Any time a tire begins to show signs of locking down, brake fluid is released to streamline its movement and prevent it from stopping. Problems arise when there is not enough brake fluid in the system. You will feel the brake pedal going unresponsive and it is getting difficult to stop the car, despite maintaining low speed. You might also hear a squeaking noise coming from the wheels, due to friction between the wheel frame and the brake pads.
Such circumstances need to be addressed without delay. The ABS warning light will be the first to let you know of the situation. You, then, have to figure out if the brake fluid is leaking. If it is, go for a refill right away. There is no overstating the importance of brakes in a vehicle. As the owner, make sure it is always under your supervision.
Final Words
As mentioned previously, ABS is one of the most important components of a car. It plays a massive part in maintaining safety levels -- both on and off the road. As we all know, the consequences of a road accident can be severe, if not fatal. Thus, every driver needs to have an eye on all the crucial components of the vehicle they drive -- with ABS being, arguably, the highest on the agenda.